Pucajirca Tragedy. A nine-man expedition from Bergamo was led by Bruno Berlendis. On July 14 five of the members were about 100 meters below the top of the west face of the highest of the Pucajircas when a huge avalanche swept them off. Rocco Berlingheri fell some 40 meters and Flavio Betivecchi 250 meters, but Italo Mai, Livio Piantoni and Giovanni Tagliaferri disappeared under the snow. Despite injuries and bad weather, the survivors reached Base Camp in two days.

Paoli Panzeri, Club Alpino Accademico ltaliano